Pair charged with multiple thefts

Scott McAngus

A man and a woman have been charged with 21 offences including thefts of mobile phones and power tools

The pair were arrested on Friday in connection with a number of “acquisitive crimes” across the district in Falkirk, Slamannan, Grangemouth, Denny and Stenhousemuir.

Officers from the Community Investigation Unit executed a search warrant to raid a house in Slamannan’s Balquatstone Crescent where power tools, mobiles and other electrical equipment was recovered.

Officers believe some of the goods may have been stolen in Fife, Cumbernauld, Airdrie and Bathgate.

A 28-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were subsequently charged with 21 crimes including theft from vehicles, theft and fraud and will appear at Falkrik Sheriff Court tomorrow.

Some of the recovered items have been handed back to the owners but a number of pieces remain unclaimed and police are inviting the public to come forward if they believe their property may be part of the haul.

Constable Blair Paterson from the Community Investigation Unit in Falkirk said: “These arrests send a clear message that we are committed to tackling acquisitive crime and bringing those responsible to justice.

“While we are delighted to have returned some of the stolen property to it’s rightful owners, a large number of items remain unclaimed and unidentified and we would urge victims of acquisitive crime offences from Forth Valley to get in touch with us to see if any of the goods we seized during this activity may belong to them.

“Further inquiry by the Community Investigation Unit has established that some of the property may have been taken during crimes within Airdrie, Bathgate, Cumbernauld and the Fife region and so victims of crime in these areas should also contact us to see if we are currently holding any of their stolen items.”